Chili cook-off in Seguin set to fire up hungry judges
8 Apr 2025
Quality of Life
Felicia Frazar | The Seguin Gazette
The weather on Saturday is set to be nice, but the temperature in Starcke Park will heat up with the world’s second largest chili cook-off.
Texas Ladies State is hosting its 54th annual chili cook-off Saturday at the Patricia King-Irving Pavilion. The event has attracted chili cooks from all over the world and throughout the years has earned the title of second largest in the world, and the largest women’s-only chili cook-off. It’s a title event organizers like Beverly Maricle hope to keep.
“Last year, we had 170 register, but we only had 140 come out and cook,” she said. “We’re trying to get more ladies to come. I really want to hit that 150-plus mark. I really love having the title of second largest cook-off.”
While The Original Terlingua International Championship Chili Cook-off, continues to hold the title of largest, one in Galveston is threatening to take the spot of second, Maricle said.
“There is another cook-off in Galveston… and they get people to cook,” she said. “They’re hot on our heels. I don’t want to lose that title. So, if anybody is interested in being a first-time cook, if they let me know by Friday evening so I can make an H-E-B run, I would be willing to coach anybody who is interested in learning.”
Organizers expect to see at least 140 cooks simmer up pots of chili and they need judges to help winnow down the winners.
“We need a good 250 to 300 judges,” she said. “If we get enough judges, not one single cook has to judge. That is what you want, especially on a state level cook-off. Cooks can only judge the first round anyway.”
The chili that doesn’t make it to the final table is donated to a local service organization, Maricle said.
“We call that the call chili and we donate all of it to the McQueeney Lions Club,” she said. “They sponsor two chairs and we give them the chili. That is what they serve on their Frito pies and French fries on Bingo night. The people out there love that chili. Every year, they can’t wait until they get a new batch of chili.”
The chili goes through a couple of rounds before it makes the final table where VIP judges help select winners.
This year, Maricle said a couple of guests are planning to join the festivities and see what the second largest chili cook-off is all about.
“I’m looking forward to this year some new guests that we’ll have,” she said. “We’re going to have a traveling food writer on the final table. We have Texas CO-OP Power Magazine sending a writer and photographer to gather information. I don’t know when they’re going to do the story, but I’m hoping next year, so we can have it right before the 55th anniversary. Then we have a representative from Woodbridge Wine coming out to see what we’re all about.”
The event is open to everyone to check out whether they want to cook or judge or join in the fun, Maricle said.
“If you don’t want to cook chili and you don’t want to do the showmanship, just come out and enjoy the day,” she said. “Come to the park and see what we’re about. Come listen to music and maybe next year you might want to participate. We have a silent auction and vendor booths.”
A portion of the proceeds from the event is donated to Thriving Hearts Crisis Center.
“We feel like we can serve more people that way, not just women, not just men, everybody,” Maricle said.
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